AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 257, Issue 2 423-H433, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Platelets adhere to thrombin-treated endothelial cells in vitro

J. E. Kaplan, D. G. Moon, L. K. Weston, F. L. Minnear, P. J. Del Vecchio, J. M. Shepard and J. W. Fenton 2nd
Department of Physiology, Albany Medical College of Union University 12208.

Interaction of thrombin with vascular endothelial cells was investigated as a mechanism promoting platelet activation and adherence to endothelial monolayers. We found that pretreatment of endothelium with alpha-thrombin in the absence of platelets results in the attachment of platelets to endothelial cells after the removal of fluid-phase alpha-thrombin. This activity was eliminated by exposure of alpha-thrombin-pretreated endothelial cells to active site inhibitors of alpha-thrombin or by adding alpha-thrombin in the presence of excess diisopropyl fluorophosphate-inhibited thrombin, suggesting retention of active alpha-thrombin by a receptor-mediated mechanism. Morphological data and the results of [14C]serotonin release studies indicate that platelets are activated by alpha-thrombin-pretreated endothelium and that adherence represents aggregates of activated platelets as well as individual platelets. Adherence on alpha-thrombin-pretreated endothelium is dependent on divalent cations. Platelets also adhered to aortic segments pretreated with thrombin. The data of the current studies support the contention that alpha-thrombin can promote adherence of activated platelets to endothelial cells because of the binding and retention of alpha-thrombin to endothelial cells in a manner in which it remains active and available for platelet activation.

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